Figure A-3. Top: Let's activate Windows! During activation, your PC sends Microsoft a list of 10 internal components of your PC. This, ladies and gentleman, is copy protection. If you ever try to install Windows XP onto a second machine, it will notice that the components aren't identical, and you'll be locked out after 30 days (see Section A-3). Bottom: If you don't have an Internet connection, you can do this process by telephone, although it's much less convenient and takes a lot longer.

Registering it (a completely optional process—if you'd rather not get junk mail, click "No, not at this time").

Configuring your Internet connection, if you don't already have one.

Setting up names for the first five user accounts (Chapter 16), if they aren't already set up.